Issue

I have a React app with a Flask backend listening on port 5000 on localhost (flask’s default). Can I add another backend using express to the same web app that also listens on port 5000? but I wanted to have multiple backends working from the same frontend.

To clarify, my use case is like this:

When a user sends a POST request to her Flask, the data is saved to a local database.

Use the values ​​saved from the local database (the response from Flask) for further processing on the express server.

Redirect the user to the appropriate page in React using the response from the fast server.

Most online tutorials only have one backend, but I wanted to work with a more complex system. I was thinking of the following ideas –

Call fetch('flask/api/save' from React and @app.route('flask/api/save') to Flask backend Save data to code> Save data to local database

Once you get a successful response from the Flask backend, call another fetch('express/api/doWork). Here we use the same port 5000 to connect to the updated local database. Send Flask from Express using app.get('/express/api/doWork) and send the appropriate response.

Redirect the user to the correct page based on the response.

Is this possible? Or is there a better way to achieve this communication?

Thank you!

Solution

I finally figured out the answer myself. It’s not possible for 2 servers to listen on the same port. The solution here would be to use Flask as a reverse proxy and redirect the client calls to the express server.

Reference – Multiple backend servers accessible from a Flask server

Answered By – addybist

Answer Checked By – Gilberto Lyons (Easybugfix Admin)

Tags: flask, nginx